On November 14 rotation ceremony was held at the base of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team. The outgoing 13th rotation of military contingent of the PRT handed over the mission to PRT-14 formed mainly by volunteer servicemembers under the command of Col Eligijus Senulis.
Commander of the ISAF Regional Command-West (superior command of the Lithuanian-led PRT) Brigadier General Luciano Portolano thanked the 13th shift for excellent service and tasks completed. He also wished success for the new contingent.
Four Danish troops ended service in the ISAF mission together with the 13th rotation of the Lithuanian-led PRT, new shift of their nationals will not be delegated to the mission.
Senior National Representative of the Danish Defence Forces Brig Gen Birgen Mejlholm said in the ceremony that results of Lithuanian and Danish collaboration in Ghor since 2005 are great. "I am convinced that cooperation between Lithuanian and Danish military in future will remain just as firm", General said.
The contingent rotation ceremony was also attended by Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Col Vilmantas Tamošaitis, Commander of the Motorised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Col Valdemaras Rupšys, Head of the PRT Civilian Element Eugenijus Vaicekauskas, authorities of Ghor administration, local security forces, governmental organisations and NGOs.
Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian and military mission, a part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), launched in the province in summer of 2005. The essential task of the mission is to support Afghan government in extending its authority in the province, ensuring security and creating conditions for provincial reconstruction.
Staff of the Lithuanian-led PRT in Chaghcharan includes Georgia's, Japan's, US, Poland's, Finland's, and Ukraine's representatives alongside Lithuanian military and civilian personnel.
Pictures and article by PIO 1st Lt Tomas Pakalniškis
